Handel finished third in last month's Republican primary for Georgia's open Senate seat. Rep. Jack Kingston and former Dollar General CEO David Perdue will meet in a July 22 runoff and the winner will face Democrat Michelle Nunn in November.

Handel said Friday in an email to supporters that even though she won't be on the ballot this year, she plans "to work hard to elect strong, conservative women across America," including Joni Ernst in Iowa and Mia Love in Utah.

The Georgia Senate race is among a dozen or so being watched nationally as Republicans look to take control of the Senate from Democrats.